On Letting Go, Gratitude, and the Quiet Work of Forgiveness
- Lisa Angelini
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Fall has always been my teacher in letting go.
It’s a season that reminds me how endings and beginnings often arrive hand in hand — that release and renewal are not opposites, but parts of the same rhythm.
It’s been a tender few months since losing our beloved pet. Grief still moves through me in quiet waves, but I’m slowly finding my way back to writing and editing. This return has been gentle, slower than I imagined, but filled with small moments of grace and quiet gratitude — reminders that love remains even as forms change.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on what it truly means to let go. We often hear phrases like “release the past” or “practice non-attachment,” yet so many of us struggle to live them.
Non-attachment isn’t about detaching from life — it’s about releasing our grip on what we can’t control, on stories that no longer serve us, on the hope that the past might have turned out differently. It’s a tender kind of courage, one that makes space for peace without pretending we’re fine.
In the pages of my book, I’ve been exploring how forgiveness fits into this process. So often, we talk about “letting go” when what we’re really doing is bypassing. We say the right words — “I’m over it,” “It’s fine” — yet our bodies still brace when the person’s name comes up.
True forgiveness isn’t a thought. It’s a felt shift.
It’s when the heart no longer clenches at the memory.
It’s when the nervous system finally exhales.
And it can’t be rushed. Forgiveness grows out of truth-telling, grief, and surrender — out of letting ourselves feel the hurt before we can release it.
Writing about this work has been humbling. Each sentence teaches me that real release isn’t a single moment, but a practice — one rooted in honesty, compassion, and gratitude for the lessons along the way.
As I continue revising and shaping this book, I’m holding deep gratitude for you — for being here, for your patience, and for your openness to these conversations about healing and renewal. I can’t wait to share more soon.
